On July 2nd, 2006, my world was turned upside down. My wife Katrina and I had just completed the British 10k run in London, when she collapsed and died at the finish line.
Katrina was extremely fit and healthy, and just 30 years old. She had an incredibly healthy lifestyle and loved swimming, yoga and running.
She was robbed of two thirds of her life by a heart condition which had previously gone undetected. In just a few seconds, Katrina’s Mum, four wonderful sisters, myself and the rest of our families and friends had lost a truly wonderful girl who we all loved so much.
It was at this time that I first contacted Alison Cox at CRY. I set up a Memorial Fund for Katrina, and over the last four and a half years, our family and friends have managed to raise over £160,000 for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
I accepted the role of Representative for CRY so that I could assist to raise awareness of the issues surrounding Sudden Cardiac Death, promote heart screening and medical research, and to offer support to families who have suffered the kind of devastating loss we have.
I pray that nobody else has to go through the pain that we have experienced, but know that tragically at the moment 12 families per week in the UK will suffer a similar horrific loss.
Like all the inspirational CRY supporters I have met over the last 4 years, I am committed to helping CRY reduce this terrible statistic and to help bereaved families cope with their new lives.
